Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

Pinned discussions

Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 0

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

All discussions

Outside observing Persistent Depressive Disorder
  • replies: 12

Struggling again. Mostly with fatigue. A few weeks ago it was more the persistent thoughts about dying but now its just - i don't think i belong in this world. I don't have any energy either. I really had to force myself to visit my parents on Christ... View more

Struggling again. Mostly with fatigue. A few weeks ago it was more the persistent thoughts about dying but now its just - i don't think i belong in this world. I don't have any energy either. I really had to force myself to visit my parents on Christmas day. I ended up being OK, but I had to push everything down. So I'm either surpressing everything or feeling like crap. I really just want to be normal. Just normal. Get up in the morning and be able to just smile and get on with my day. But everything is a drag, a long drawn out drag. I used to take anti-depressants but haven't for several months now. I have seemed like a normal person in the past and was able to fake it, but I've never really been a happy or sociable person. Anyone else here with a persistent depressive disorder? Do I have any hope?

criss Relapse in to addictive behaviour
  • replies: 3

Hello, I've had a difficult weekend where I relapsed after a long term recovery of a gambling problem I had developed. Needless to say I felt crushed, ashamed of myself and very isolated as I find it extremely difficult to talk anyone about it and es... View more

Hello, I've had a difficult weekend where I relapsed after a long term recovery of a gambling problem I had developed. Needless to say I felt crushed, ashamed of myself and very isolated as I find it extremely difficult to talk anyone about it and especially as I hide it from my family who aren't much available to me and don't know how to deal with it. I don't want to share this ugly side of me and have struggled with this alone for a long time. I have sought help on gamblers helpline and do the 100day challenge on going as it has been a tremendous support. My issue tonight is; after the initial painful grief of lost money and shame I have pulled myself together and again trying to learn from what went wrong.My triggers are very much loneliness, stuckness, anger/frustration perhaps at times at not be able to get a grip on how to get passed this stuckness. I do everything I can within the confines of work commitments and life. I try to keep busy, see people, reach out. I don't know how else to think. Last year I came off medication for depression and I was fine. Today I rescripted and started them again because I've noticed my mood drop and sway like it used to. The pressure and stress of trying to control things that are out of my control has been overwhelming.Okay so I decided to revisit the idea of throwing myself in to work again. I always have but recently I've been trying to relax more and take time out. I'm realising that for people like myself work can be a comfort and a saviour and I want to reassess my perception to this. I'm also starting a class once a week for a couple of months as a distraction and see how I go. Hopefully in a few months I will be back on track with these measures I am putting in place now. Short term goal to lift me up. What do I do about constant anxiety and restlessness when at home..I cant even watch the news any more it's all the same and negative. Thanks for listening all. And take care.

tpman Just came by for some support during a relapse
  • replies: 7

Hello all - For the past 3 or 4 days I've really detoriated and it's leaving me feel very scared and panicky. I had a major mental breakdown about 5-6 yearsago which was terrifying. I was hospitalized multiple times and it was just an incredibly awfu... View more

Hello all - For the past 3 or 4 days I've really detoriated and it's leaving me feel very scared and panicky. I had a major mental breakdown about 5-6 yearsago which was terrifying. I was hospitalized multiple times and it was just an incredibly awful time. I managed to stablise over the years and have been on a journey of recovery, however these last few days have really just come out of no where. I can't think of any major triggers, but there has been a few things which have happened which may have culimated into this relapse which I won't go into. Anyway, i'm just super scared and anxious. It's like I've just gone back in time 5 years too my mental breakdown period.I've got a psych appointment early March which seems like an eternity away, im hoping I can get in earlier. Anyway, just came here to vent and hopefully get some words of support. Really struggling, the anxiety and panic is awful = ( Thanks for listening.

ElyseH Going off antidepressants
  • replies: 7

I have been on antidepressants for over 6 years. For the past year I'd thought I wanted to start going off them. I finally started to halve my dose about 6 weeks ago. The found the physical side effects subsided I a week. But I get angry, frustrated,... View more

I have been on antidepressants for over 6 years. For the past year I'd thought I wanted to start going off them. I finally started to halve my dose about 6 weeks ago. The found the physical side effects subsided I a week. But I get angry, frustrated, irritable and hate everyone. As most people would know getting in to see the Dr isn't easy and even pre booking it is at least 4 weeks apart. The psychologist is even longer, more like almost 2 months in between. I had no idea how much they were masking. People try to make me feel better but I don't believe them. For 20 years, I have been like this and I don't believe anyone. To me I see that they don't understand. This is ridiculous, I have been like this for a month and im starting to remember why i decided to go on them in the first place. I lost it on Christmas morning found myself uncontrollable crying to the point I was having a panic attack and nothing anyone could say helped,mind you I was pretty bad and no amount of sweet talking was going to just bring me out of that state. Another family day today and I feel humiliated that I stormed away making a point that I didn't want to be a part of this day and wanted to be left alone. But I don't believe anything anyone tries to tell me. I do wish that someone at least just knew how to help.I don't initially feel depressed about something. I get upset at someone of something. One person tries to explain away someone else's behaviour which completely disregards the fact that I am upset so I then become upset that they are defending everybody but me. It's any wonder why I have issues with believing people and getting angry that my emotions aren't legit. Apart from being number 5 in a family of 9. People say " don't let your depression beat you, you are not your depression" its hard to believe that when you have had these symptoms since you can remember. I've grown up with these symptoms. I've been wired with this.

Dwings Rejected again, feeling upset and lonely
  • replies: 42

Hi all Some of you may have seen posts in another thread and I thought Id share whats been happening recent times I have been single for a very long time, in fact too long, up until say 2019 I refused to use dating sites. At the beginning of the year... View more

Hi all Some of you may have seen posts in another thread and I thought Id share whats been happening recent times I have been single for a very long time, in fact too long, up until say 2019 I refused to use dating sites. At the beginning of the year, I met someone online chatted every day and we went on a couple of dates. I thought everything was fine, after the second date this girl still kept in contact with me but I didnt hear from her for a few days then I found out that she deleted my contact on this dating app, indicating she wasnt interested in me without any reason. This made me feel upset and angry. I questioned myself why this happened, as it happened in 2019 quite a number of times Fast forward to later in the year, where I didnt really try and look for a date but then this girl messaged me on Tinder and we started chatting every day, really good conversations which gave me quite a bit of hope. Then I didnt hear from her for about a month but she later explained she needed some time off to herself. Once she was ok, we starting chatting again and the conversations between us were great. She was so nice, she made feel so good inside, I had so much hope. Despite being in lockdown I was feeling positive every day and I thought that maybe we could meet up eventually. We did a zoom chat recently but I felt so nervous that I couldnt say much, I did explain this to her and she said she was nervous too. We chatted after a couple of days but then I didnt hear from her again. I thought maybe something had happened to her or needed time out like before. But last night I checked my messages and they no longer exist, which means she has cut ties with me, just like what happened earlier in the year. Ghosted without saying goodbye and no reason why she left. This really upset me as I had feelings for this girl. I didnt sleep much last night and I dont think I'll get over this. It keeps happening every single time. All day today I felt depressed upset and angry. I am at the point where I should accept that I'll never meet the one and accept that I'll continue to have this miserable life, because no one would clearly be interested in me. I have no one else to talk to.

Hayley040 Deep depression for too long
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I've been suffering from depression and anxiety since my teenage years, I'm currently 29. I've been on a number of medications seen numerous therapies, but yet I'm still struggling.What's the worst for me, is the fatigue and lack of moti... View more

Hi everyone, I've been suffering from depression and anxiety since my teenage years, I'm currently 29. I've been on a number of medications seen numerous therapies, but yet I'm still struggling.What's the worst for me, is the fatigue and lack of motivation and the guilt of thinking I'm just "lazy" riddles my mind.I work a 38hr weekand. I'm able to do so because other people are relying on me, but I have a goal of starting my own business and have so for so long. When I finally have the free time to work, I just have no motivation and I just end up sleeping because I'm so frustrated with myself and want this day to end, so I can start fresh.What has worked for you all to get through the depression fatigue? I can no longer handle it. Thank you.

JIvy13 I think I’m relapsing
  • replies: 3

I’ve been fine for a few months now and have been thinking about coming off my meds but recently I’ve started feeling so empty. I stay in bed all day, binge eat to feel better and then hate myself for it. I’m so lonely here I don’t know a lot of peop... View more

I’ve been fine for a few months now and have been thinking about coming off my meds but recently I’ve started feeling so empty. I stay in bed all day, binge eat to feel better and then hate myself for it. I’m so lonely here I don’t know a lot of people. I’m losing touch with my best friends from another country and I’m scared to lose them. I just want someone to talk to who understands so I don’t have to explain it to someone new. I was also assaulted 5 months ago and I thought I was moving on but all those feelings are arising again and idk what to do

Ella_Chipchase A Feeling That Feels Like It Will Never Disappear :(
  • replies: 2

Hello Everyone, my name is Ella and on 7th of march 2021 my life forever changed when i realised that my grandfather was grooming me for sex. My dad used to use drugs when i was younger and his parents helped him out alot he also has a lot of health ... View more

Hello Everyone, my name is Ella and on 7th of march 2021 my life forever changed when i realised that my grandfather was grooming me for sex. My dad used to use drugs when i was younger and his parents helped him out alot he also has a lot of health issues so his mum helped out so when i was around 2 we started to live with them years went by and my dad built them a house as a thank you and as payment we would get to live there, i lived there since i was 7 but 1 day my stupid year 8 ass wanted to fit in and be a rebel at my private school and i wanted vape so i told the one person i knew i could ask and thought i could trust my grandfather He ended up getting it he then asked for my number to "communicate" abt the vape so i gave it to him later after i got it he started texting me about i can pay so i asked how much it n then said no not money and that moment i knew something was up my mum always tried to educate me on the importance of creeps and pedofiles i always had this gut feeling that our relationship was different bc he used to show me things on his ipad like naked girls hes been chatting and weird secrets like how he slept with his wife brothers wife and just random things that u shouldnt tell your 12 year old granddaugter n this was also happening before then like since i was 9 maybe even younger anyway point is i just knew and i said wdym and he said come into my room and wear those special undies cause he had made comments of undies on the clothesline before but i chose to not believe it and think of it bc A) i knew my dad would be homeless b) it would tear apart my family but i spoke up bc it would happen to me again or worst my cousins so i told my dad that night and his first words pack your and get in the car and this is one of many reasons i love my dad because he didnt think twice and he believed me we then told my mum and she was crushed and my bro and i got the day off school and my mum took u shopping whole my dad went to the police bc of covid we had to we had to wait a year for court but earlier after a month he plead guilty but in court he got punished to 3 months of commuity sevice of some kind and had to take manitory therapy sessions cause he called it was a mentalbreak down tf my nan took his side which hurt but still 2 yrs later i still feel bretrayed, empty n like i cant trust anyone, i have trouble sleeping ectidk how to fix it or help so can someone pls help me idk what to do anymore.

ogtbird Depression Destroying Everything
  • replies: 4

Hi I moved to Western Australia about 11 years ago. Long story short I never fully accepted leaving family and friends behind in the UK. This is no disrespect to WA and AUSTRALIA which are great places to live. It’s just me. Fast forward a decade and... View more

Hi I moved to Western Australia about 11 years ago. Long story short I never fully accepted leaving family and friends behind in the UK. This is no disrespect to WA and AUSTRALIA which are great places to live. It’s just me. Fast forward a decade and my marriage collapsed about a year and a half ago. This is after years of problems. I blame myself mostly as my ex wife loves it here and she took the chance to leave my negativity behind. It had become too much for her. It’s something that I’ve tried to address through medication, counselling but I just have a dark view on life and living in Perth. Incredibly I’ve managed to get myself in a good place physically I got a rental, have a good relationship with my ex and son I even have been seeing a girl for the last 6 months we go to gigs etc. But mentally I just cannot get myself in a positive place about living here. I have a duty to my son but I am like a zombie going through the motions. My girlfriend now has noticed it. The anxiety is huge. I visualise the worst so now I’m down on future on things like buying a house which in turn ruins day to day living. It’s one thing after the next. I’m just wasting life with such a pessimistic negative view on everything. Many people would jump at the chance I have but I feel like I’ve wasted life. For example my current girlfriend lives day to day as her husband passed away 9 years ago. I admire her mentality about life but I cannot translate it into my negative mindset. Any points welcome.

Bellatrix_17 Constantly feeling like a failure/burden
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I haven’t been diagnosed properly yet (only once by a GP). I always feel anxious and constantly feel like a failure/burden. I feel like I can’t do anything right. I’ve been actively looking for a stable job for months. I ha... View more

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I haven’t been diagnosed properly yet (only once by a GP). I always feel anxious and constantly feel like a failure/burden. I feel like I can’t do anything right. I’ve been actively looking for a stable job for months. I have qualifications and work experience from internships and field placements. My supervisors, tutors or trainers always told me that I was very competent too. I’m using a resume format with content that was reviewed by an expert from my uni. I just update the content as necessary. I wouldn’t say I lack communication skills either. However, I have only got contacted for interviews so far. My friends from uni already got a job. I might be the only one who haven’t got a job (got my master’s degree in 2019 and diploma last December). I’m 29 years old and not eligible for Centrelink services. Therefore, I have to shamelessly ask for money from my parents who are currently struggling financially as well. I feel useless. I have a partner who also have anxiety and depression disorders. I’m very open minded, but I rarely express my opinions to other people, apart from my partner who shares the same views. However, most of the times whenever I express my opinions to him, particularly about social injustice, he always gets triggered. He would seem uncomfortable. Even when I just want to talk casually. I feel like I can’t say anything right. I feel like a failure. I feel like a burden to every person that I love.